Si x do l l ars

Spr i ng / Su m m e r 2 018 — Nu m be r 79
Pu bl ic a ti o ns Ma i l agr eem ent #40063877

Alternative Solutions Romsdal Folk Museum Hurricane Ties

Writing an alternative solution Treasured landmark built using Achieving expected
proposal for a tall wood building local timber technology uplift resistance
 SUCH A COMPLEX
GEOMETRY, NO-ONE
THOUGHT IT COULD BE
BUILT OUT OF WOOD.

“The complex geometry of the Rocky

Ridge Recreation Centre was developed
with significant industry input.
Structurlam proposed an ingenious
solution that resulted in significant cost
savings and a partnership with the design
and construction management team to
achieve successful project outcomes.”
Dave Edmonds
ARCHITECT, GEC ARCHITECTURE

Head Office Rocky Ridge Recreation Centre

2176 Government Street CALGARY, ALBERTA | UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Penticton, BC, Canada Rocky Ridge Recreation Centre has the largest wood roof
structure in North America. PHOTOS COURTESY THE CITY OF CALGARY
V2A 8B5
Contact Info
+1 250 492 8912 (Construction)
+1 250 462 6142 (Industrial)
sales@structurlam.com
 c o n t e n t s Above and on the cover:
Romsdal Folk Museum, Molde, Norway
Photo Credit: Erik Hattrem

O     C     F       

Romsdal Folk Museum 26 Georgica Cove 11

Architectural attraction and treasured
landmark, the museum was built using
Norwegian timber technology and acts
as a hub for cultural development.
Cedar shingles common to local buildings
are scaled up to cover the roof and sidewalls.
University of Massachusetts Olver Design Building 16
A study in flexibility and environmentally sensitive design,
a steel design was more than half complete when the
university decided on a wood structural system.

          
Against the Grain 6
Unique Places of Worship
GoodLife Fitness Family Autism Hub 20
Building was designed and detailed to create a modern,
expressive architecture and a nurturing place for people
living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Wood Chips 8
News and events on Alternative Solutions for Tall Wood Buildings 32
wood-related subjects Learn more about a valuable new tool for better understanding the
considerations that may go into the development of an alternative
solution when seeking approval to construct a tall mass timber building.
Wood Ware 46
Artisan Travel Trailers
Technical Solutions 44
Hurricane ties are being used in all types of wood-framed buildings
where designing for wind uplift may not strictly be required by
local codes. Proper installation is key.

Ideas & Applications 37

Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT) is a structurally efficient and
economic mass timber panel which can be used for floor, wall,
and roof structures, and it’s on the rise in North America.
 Updating Codes for Tall Mass Timber Buildings
In April, the International Code Council’s (ICC) Committee Action Hearings in Columbus, OH,
concluded with a clear endorsement of building codes that will enable the use of mass timber
technologies in buildings up to 18 stories. Though taller mass timber buildings are currently being
built under various local codes, this move by the ICC ensures that model code provisions will be
available to many more building officials.
“The strength and fire resistance performance of mass timber structures is well understood and
supported by substantial testing and data,” said Stephen DiGiovanni, P.E., Chair of the ICC’s Ad
Hoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings and fire protection engineer for the Clark County (NV)
Department of Building and Fire Prevention, in a press release. “As taller mass timber buildings
become more widely deployed, it’s important that the International Building Code and the entire
family of I-Codes remains at the forefront of emerging construction technologies, and continues
to provide building and fire code officials with the tools they need to ensure the safety of the
public and first responders.”
All buildings under the International Building Code (IBC) must meet specified fire performance
standards, whether built of steel, concrete or mass timber. The 14 code provisions passed from
the ICC Committee Action Hearings established new fire resistance standards and procedures for
mass timber that are more rigorous than comparable steel and concrete structures.
The ICC deliberations were conducted by a board-appointed Ad Hoc Committee on Tall
Wood Buildings, consisting of building officials, fire services professionals, engineers, materials
providers and other industry stakeholders that worked more than two years to evaluate the code,
investigate the science of mass timber, and develop consensus proposals to ensure that tall mass
timber buildings meet the highest standards.
The formal adoption of the codes into the IBC is pending votes at the 2018 ICC Public
Comment Hearing in October, in Richmond, VA, and a nationwide online vote by code officials
in November.
We’ll all be watching . . . but things are looking up!

Theresa Rogers
Executive Editor
trogers@dvtail.com

Wood Design & Building magazine invites you to submit your project for consideration and possible publication.
We welcome contributed projects, bylined articles and letters to the editor, as well as comments or suggestions
for improving our magazine. Please send your submissions to Theresa Rogers at trogers@dvtail.com.

4                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8

inspiration Board www.wooddesignandbuilding.com
Spring/Summer 2018, Volume 20, Issue 79
What I’ve fallen for this month... PUBLISHER Etienne Lalonde
elalonde@cwc.ca
Publishing manager Sarah Hicks
shicks@wood-works.ca
sponsored by
COMMUNICATION MANAGER Natalie Tarini
ntarini@cwc.ca
Special ProjectS Manager Ioana lazea
International Prize for Wood Architecture ilazea@cwc.ca
Earlier this year, I had the honor of participating in the first annual Executive EDITOR Theresa Rogers
International Prize for Wood Architecture awarded by the press. This trogers@dvtail.com
brand new prize aims to reward excellence in wood architecture
while establishing links between countries where wood construction
Staff writer Hermione Wilson
hwilson@dvtail.com
is playing an increasingly important role. The editors of the following
magazines also participated by each submitting three projects from Contributors Steve Craft
their respective regions and then judging the whole. Lucas Epp
•Lignardo/Mikado: Germany •Lignum: Switzerland Alexander McCleave
•PUU Info: Finland •Séquences Bois: France
•Trä: Sweden •Zuschnitt: Austria ART DIRECTOR sharon MacIntosh
smacintosh@dvtail.com
The prize was awarded to Russell Acton, Principal, Acton Ostry Advertising sales
Architects, for Brock Commons Tallwood House in April, in
Dijon, France, in conjunction with the conference, Forum Bois Sales manager Beth Kukkonen
bkukkonen@dvtail.com
Construction. Here are just a few of the other entrants:
905-886-6641 ext. 306
Senior ACCOUNT executive Gillian Thomas
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905-886-6641 ext. 308
V.P. Production Services Roberta Dick
robertad@dvtail.com
PRODUCTION coordinator Crystal himes
chimes@dvtail.com
Dovetail communications PRESIDENT Susan A. Browne
sbrowne@dvtail.com

Artlab EDITORIAL BOARD

Photo Credit: Joel Tettamanti Shelley Craig, Principal, Urban Arts Architecture, Vancouver, BC
Gerry Epp, President & Chief Engineer, StructureCraft Builders Inc., Vancouver, BC
Laura Hartman, Principal, Fernau & Hartman Architects, Berkeley, CA
Randall Kober, Master Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON
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Against the GRAIN

Unique Places of Worship

Alexander McCleave
Places of worship have long been important and symbolic buildings many
of us are drawn to. Whether we visit these places to be with a group of
like-minded people to sing and praise a higher power, or to be alone with 1
our thoughts, one ideal every house of worship strives for is to provide a
peaceful and welcoming environment. The incorporation of wood into
these sacred buildings creates a feeling of warmth and serenity that is an
appropriate backdrop for a spiritual experience.
Belarusian Memorial Chapel was commissioned to commemorate
the 30th anniversary of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The design
draws inspiration from the rural wooden churches in Belarus, and aims
to combine their traditional architectural language with contemporary
building technologies and concepts. The materials palette was restricted
to wood and glass to reflect the austere and tranquil beauty of traditional
wooden churches.
Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Fatima was inaugurated last summer
for a National Scouts Activities Camp in Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal. The
chapel was inspired by the scouting experience of outdoor life and used
lamellar Portuguese pine to create a woodsy, natural look. The building
was not meant to stand out, but rather blend into the surroundings. This
creates a peaceful environment with a natural and cozy wood interior.
In a quiet Philippine fishing village, there is a vibrant and colorful little
2
chapel called Chapel of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. This chapel was
constructed with a tiny budget of only $20,000 (USD). The chapel blends
mahogany and amakan (woven, split bamboo) to create a truly one-of-
a-kind place. The amakan weaving process creates an extremely strong
panel that also gives the chapel a tropical feeling. This incorporation of
different materials was inspired by the surrounding Nipa huts.
The Burning Man festival is an annual event that takes place in Black
Rock Desert, NV. Each year, a massive temple is constructed for the
80,000 participants who come to the event. In August 2017, a group of
100 volunteers built this temple in only two weeks. The temple,
constructed from Ponderosa pine from the Sierra Nevada foothills,
provided a quiet, contemplative space where participants could bring
mementos of people who had passed away during the previous year. By
the end of the week-long event, the temple was covered in handwritten
messages, objects and photos that were burned along with the structure 3
in a cathartic ritual at the culmination of the event.

1. Belarusian Memorial Chapel (2017) 3. Chapel of St. Benedict and

Architect: Spheron Architects
Location: London, England
Photo Credit: Helene Binet
2. Chapel of Nossa Senhora
de Fatima (2017)
Architect: Plano Humano Arquitectos
Location: National Scouts Activities
Camp, Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal
Photo Credit: João Morgado
St. Scholastica (2017)
Architect: WTA Architecture
and Design Studio
Location: Pambujan, Philippines
Photo Credit: Paul Quiambao
4. Burning Man Festival Temple (2017)
Team: Marisha Farnsworth (Artist);
Mark Sinclair (Structural Engineer);
Steven Brummond (Project Manager/
Designer); Design Team (Anastasia Victor,
John Faichney, Chris Lander)
Location: Black Rock Desert, NV
Photo Credit: Marisha Farnsworth 4

6                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
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WOODCHIPS
Image courtesy of Acton Ostry Architects Inc.
Photographer: Michael Elkan Photography
k B rock Commons Tallwood House
Wins International Press Award
Russell Acton, Principal at Acton Ostry Architects, was
presented with a press award for the Brock Commons
Tallwood House project as part of the International Wood
Construction Press Awards, which were selected by several
publication editors from around the world. Theresa Rogers,
Editor of Wood & Design Building magazine, was part of the
hand-selected jury and submitted the Brock Commons proj-
ect for consideration.
Brock Commons is the tallest mass timber building in the
world, home to more than 400 students on the University
of British Columbia campus. It was chosen for an award
because the jury felt that the project represented an archi-
tectural milestone which showcases new uses for wood in
multi-storey wood construction and architecture.
Vancouver’s Acton Ostry Architects designed the building
in collaboration with structural engineer Fast + Epp, tall
wood advisor Architekten Hermann Kaufmann of Austria,
and Structurlam in Penticton BC.
“Advanced construction technologies and modern mass
timber products have made tall wood construction a viable
option that is gaining traction with design and construc-
tion communities who face growing pressures to reduce the
carbon footprint of buildings,” explains Etienne Lalonde,
Vice President Market Development for the Canadian Wood
Council and publisher of Wood & Design Building magazine.
www.wooddesignandbuilding.com
8                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
k Bensonwood Opens New Production Facility
In late April, Bensonwood announced a new white label brand
for all products produced at its new advanced building com-
ponent manufacturing facility. The announcement was made
at the grand opening of the new 110,000-sq.ft. production
facility located in Keene, NH.
The new facility enables the efficient and precise production
of high-performance and high-quality wood-based panels and
structures, and will work in parallel with Bensonwood’s tim-
ber frame and millwork production. The production facility
scales building efficiencies by removing time and costs from
building development and construction. This volume opti-
mization lowers the environmental impact of construction by
reducing waste. www.bensonwood.com
k Roseburg to Acquire Pembroke MDF
Oregon-based Roseburg Forest Products recently reached an
agreement in principle with Pembroke MDF, Inc. to purchase
Pembroke’s medium density fibreboard (MDF) and molding
production facilities located in northeastern Ontario.
The acquisition will be Roseburg’s first international pur-
chase and will continue the country’s expansion throughout
North America.
The company currently owns and operates an MDF plant in
Medford, OR, which produces the company’s Arreis, Medite,
Medex, Permacore, and Fibrlite product lines. “The addition of
the Pembroke MDF plant means Roseburg customers will have
access to a broader portfolio of products from a company with
a demonstrated, long-term commitment to the industry,” says
Jim Buffington, Roseburg’s Business Director for Industrial
Products.
“While this deal represents an excellent strategic opportu-
nity for the company, it also offers Pembroke employees and
suppliers the promise of stability and consistency provided by
Roseburg’s large manufacturing enterprise,” says President and
CEO Grady Mulbery. “This is a win-win for everyone involved,
and we look forward to what the future will bring.”
www.roseburg.com

k AWC Hires Fire Service Manager
A new position, Manager, Fire Service Relations, with the
American Wood Council (AWC) will be filled by Raymond
O’Brocki, CBO. O’Brocki will create a stronger relationship
between AWC and the fire service community.
The safety of first responders is AWC’s priority.
O’Brocki’s existing relationships with fire service organi-
zations and officials will help the AWC better understand
the needs and expectations of the fire service for education
and technical support on wood products, construction, and
fireground considerations. One of O’Brocki’s duties will be
to get training materials and videos on the best practices
that can help prevent construction fires in front of the right
audiences.
O’Brocki served as the Construction Standards
Code Enforcement Officer for Prince George’s County
(Maryland) Department of Permitting, Inspections and
Enforcement. He had previously served in several positions
for the Baltimore Fire Department.
O’Brocki is an International Code Council Certified
Building Official. He received his bachelor’s in juris-
prudence from the University of Baltimore and his juris
doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
www.awc.org
k Austrian Timber-Hybrid Construction Specialist Awards
License in Luxembourg for its Construction System
The Compagnie De Construction Luxembourgeoise SA
(CDCL), based in Leudelange, has acquired the Cree license
for Luxembourg.
Cree says that CDCL now has exclusive access to a com-
pletely new, digital way of planning and constructing
buildings. The knowledge transfer between CDCL and Cree
is already underway and a number of high-volume projects
are in the development phase. “We see ourselves as pioneers,
systematically implementing our company’s strategy and
growth trajectory,” says Jean Marc Kieffer, CEO, CDCL.
Construction projects in Luxembourg will now be able
to use the timber-hybrid modular construction system
and knowledge platform developed by Cree GmbH. This
construction method relies on timber, allowing structural
columns or central service cores to be prefabricated to stan-
dardised designs, saving resources, time, noise, and money.
“This modular design also allows worldwide implementa-
tion, using local resources,” says Hubert Rhomberg.
Cree says general con-
tractors and property
developers such as CDCL
can license the system and
use it to secure a com-
petitive advantage in their
home market.
www.creebyrhomberg.com
                   ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
WOODCHIPS
k Architects Chosen for
New George Brown
College Tall Wood
Campus Buildings
George Brown College
has selected Moriyama
& Teshima Architects +
Action Ostry Architects to
design The Arbour, its tall
wood campus building on
Toronto’s waterfront. This
moves the project one step
closer to the construction
of a tall wood, low carbon Photo Credit: Moriyama and Teshima
institutional building. Architects
In selecting the winning design, the jury said, “The concept
excelled across all aspects of the selection criteria: innovative
use of wood; excellent energy use; exquisite space planning;
and spaces that will have a strong resonance with students
and the broader East Bayfront community.”
Once built, the 174,900-sq.ft. building will be home to the
college’s School of Computer Technology, a new child care
facility, and Canada’s first Tall Wood Research Institute that
will generate innovative ideas and research in low-carbon,
mass timber construction.
The team’s design for The Arbour features breathing
rooms – using solar chimney systems to capture and har-
ness light and air for sustainable natural ventilation. It also
offers flexibility of learning spaces, enabling walls to expand
and contract as well as a “Made in Canada” approach using
nationally sourced mass wood components.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 with a budget
of $130 million. www.georgebrown.ca
k Washington State Helping
Revolutionize How America Builds
American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Robert
Glowinski issued a statement following Governor Jay Inslee
signing SB 5450, which directs the state of Washington to
enact the tall wood building code changes when adopted by
the International Code Council. The move will help jump
start mass timber construction in the state.
“Mass timber is a new category of wood product that will
revolutionize how America builds. Beyond its aesthetic
qualities, wood is among the most energy-efficient and
environmentally friendly of all building materials. Wood
products store carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere
indefinitely, thereby reducing a building’s environmental
footprint,” says Glowinski.
“The entire construction industry is changing. AWC
applauds Washington state for helping pioneer better places
for us to live and work.” www.awc.org
9
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10                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
Georgica Cove
Limited materials palette unifies spaces and responds to local climate

East Hampton, NY

A couple with property on a cove overlooking the
Atlantic Ocean asked for a house that would be just as
comfortable for two as it would on busy weekends when
the couple was entertaining their children, grandchil-
dren and guests.
To also instill the desired sense of comfort and peace,
the design needed to blend with the pastoral setting
and vernacular building traditions; i.e., predominantly
shingle-style homes and barns that are often added to
over time. Precedent studies suggested that referencing
New England-connected farms in an innovative way
could achieve both goals.
The architectural style of the house was applied to
subsequent buildings to unify the assembly, but parti-
tions within provided the necessary separation between
uses: house to kitchen, kitchen to shop, shop to barn.
One volume was often offset or rotated from the next to
provide greater access to light, air and privacy from the
other functions. Following that example, the program
of this house is divided into the owners’ bedroom and
office, eat-in kitchen and family room, formal living and
dining rooms, and guest rooms.

                   ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8 11
12                    ‒ spring / summer 2 0 1 8
 14

6 7
14
14
5 4
8 9 10
1 2 3
1 2 3 4
11
12

13

1. family room 8. courtyard 1. master suite 3 3. bedroom 2

2. eat-in 9. master suite 1 2. bedroom 1 4. master suite 2
3. kitchen 10. master bath 1
4. pantry 11. entry
Second Floor Plan
5. bar 12. mudroom
6. dining room 13. garage
7. living room 14. deck

Ground Floor Plan

The spaces are arranged around a courtyard to create

visual and physical connections between them, but those
connections can be broken by large sliding doors. Each
structure has an independent mechanical system allow-
ing it to be shut down when unoccupied. This allows the
house to expand and contract to meet changing needs.
Whether the owners are alone, hosting dinner guests, or
have a full house of overnight guests, the house perfectly
meets their requirements.
As with connected farms, a limited palette of materi-
als and details unifies the various spaces and responds
to the local climate. The cedar shingles common to local
buildings are scaled up to the size of boards to cover the
roof and sidewalls. Cedar screens provide privacy and
filter light. A marble plinth filled with sand elevates the
house above the floodplain while also creating drywells
to accept stormwater runoff. Oak floors and millwork
unify the interior spaces.

                   ‒ spring / summer 2 0 1 8 13
 4
The design repurposes the historic typology of the connected
3 farm to suit the timely needs of the site and the family. By
acknowledging the area’s history and tradition of building, the
2 home is an evolution of this vernacular.

ARCHITECT
Bates Masi + Architects
1 East Hampton, NY

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Steven Maresca
Hampton Bays, NY

G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
John Hummel and Associates Custom Builders
1 East Hampton, NY

P H OTO G R A P H Y
Bates Masi + Architects
East Hampton, NY
1. parking 3. building
2. entry 4. pool

site Plan
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 University of
Massachusetts
Olver Design Building
Exposed mass timber structure is a teaching tool

Amherst, MA

16                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
 The goal for the John W. Olver Design Building at the
University of Massachusetts Amherst was to create an
innovative and inspired building that visibly demon-
strates environmentally sensitive design. The result is
one of the most advanced mass timber buildings in
the United States; a four-story, 87,500-sq.ft. struc-
ture that exemplifies the university’s commitment to
sustainability and, through generations of students
who will learn within its walls, the future of the built
environment.
The Design Building sets a high bar for mass timber
buildings in the U.S. with a glulam timber column-
and-beam frame, glulam brace frame, cross-laminated
timber (CLT) shear walls, timber-concrete composite
floor system, and unconventional cantilevered forms. It
is wrapped in an envelope of copper-colored anodized
aluminum which, combined with vertical windows,
echoes the wood structure by evoking the color and
pattern of regional forests.

Architectural Design
Just as it unites three university departments, the
Design Building serves as a bridge between the archi-
tectural styles of different campus buildings. It is
carefully sited on a steep slope at the main campus
artery, rising from three stories on the east side of the
building to four on the west. In this way, its massing
connects the smaller structures of historic Stockbridge
Way with the brick Fine Arts Center and modern con-
crete structures on campus.
The steel design was more than half complete when
the university decided on a wood structural system.
However, knowing that a switch was possible, some
smart design decisions were made early on, to select
a structural grid that could accommodate either steel
or mass timber, and paying close attention to floor-to-
floor heights and overall building geometry. The team
even created parallel schematic drawings of a mass
timber building design.
Intended to house 500 students and 50 faculty, the
Design Building is organized around a two-story cen-
tral atrium; a flexible gathering and event space with
integrated tiered seating, movable partition boards,
lounge seating and cafe. Dominated by the composite
zipper truss roof structure, the atrium also features a
three-story, folded CLT stair, hung from a single long-
span truss with thin rods that give the impression it’s
floating.
Facilities used by all three academic departments
surround the atrium in the building’s main volume.
The first floor features exhibition and lecture space,
laboratories, fabrication and materials testing shops,

                   ‒ spring / summer 2 0 1 8 17
 dining and classroom space, while the second and third
include studios, classrooms and offices, and the smaller
fourth floor contains studios. Above the atrium is a green
roof that functions as a public courtyard and outdoor
learning space for students studying urban landscapes.
A curtain wall system exposes much of the building’s
first floor, including the timber structural system and
atrium space, inviting interaction with passersby. The
second story cantilevers several feet beyond the first,
and the second, third and fourth stories are clad with a
panelized rainscreen system.
The Design Building is Type IV Construction with a
limited number of unprotected steel transfer beams in
the two cantilevers and elements of the courtyard truss.
Type IV Construction allows the use of exposed, solid
or laminated wood members such as CLT, glulam and
wood decking if certain provisions are met. For example,
per IBC 2009 Section 602.4, minimum timber sizes must
be used, concealed spaces are not permitted, and exte-
rior walls must be of non-combustible materials or fire
retardant-treated wood.
Gravity Framing System
The structural gravity framing system includes glulam
beams and columns supporting the timber-concrete
composite floor system and CLT roof decking. Other
than CLT shaft walls, walls are non-load bearing, cold-
formed steel walls with standard gypsum finishes.
18                    ‒ spring / summer 2 0 1 8
Common glulam floor beam sizes are 14-1/4 inches
wide x 15 inches or 16-1/2 inches deep. Columns are
14-1/4 inches wide by 22-1/2 inches to 25-1/2 inches
deep. Glulam members were sealed with standard fac-
tory clear-coat finishes, and members in areas of higher
traffic were given an extra coating in the field. Most of
the glulam members are black spruce.
The roof assembly is made from seven-ply CLT panels,
with rigid insulation and sheet membrane on the exte-
rior. Panel-to-panel connections are surface splines with
plywood and self-tapping wood screws.
Typical panel-to-beam and beam-to-column con-
nections included a variety of self-tapping wood screws,
which are common on modern mass timber projects,
and concealed beam hangers. In their final condition,
the steel hangers are protected from fire exposure by a
minimum thickness of wood.
Education Today, Building for the Future
Completed in January 2017, the building is now
home to a bustling education community. Its inno-
vative mass timber systems are an inspiration for
students, practicing design professionals, and every
passerby drawn by the extraordinary sight of the
zipper truss within. It is also, in many ways, the
embodiment of an optimistic future.
By inspiring designers and their projects, for exam-
ple, there is a good chance that the Design Building
will lead to increased manufacturing of mass timber CLIENT

products in the eastern U.S. Attuned to this potential, University of Massachusetts Building Authority
Amherst, MA
the BCT program is already researching the use of local
hemlock for CLT. ARCHITECT
Leers Weinzapfel Associates
This article is excerpted from a case study published by WoodWorks Boston, MA
– Wood Products Council (www.woodworks.org). WoodWorks provides
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
free project assistance as well as education and resources related to
Equilibrium Consulting
the design of commercial and multi-family buildings in the U.S. To Vancouver, BC
read the full case study, visit www.woodworks.org/publications-media/
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (EOR)
case-studies. Boston, MA

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
P r o j e ct F a ct s Suffolk
Boston, MA
Size
87,500 sq.ft./four stories TIMBER SUPPLIER
Nordic Structures
Total cost Montreal, QC
$52 million
Completed P hotography
January 2017 Alexander Schreyer – University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA

                   ‒ spring / summer 2 0 1 8 19
20                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
GoodLife Fitness
Family Autism Hub
Wood creates a nurturing place for people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Richmond, BC

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Located in Richmond, BC, the GoodLife Fitness Family
Autism Hub is designed to address the challenges faced
by those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It
is a provincial knowledge center that incorporates state-
of- the-art resources for research, education, treatment
and support for ASD individuals and their families.
There are few precedents and very little research on
the effects of the built environment on people living
with ASD. Early design research and consultation with
autism experts stressed that the building should be
warm, approachable and inviting. The primary goal was
to develop a nurturing and supportive environment; the
need to minimize stimuli was a constant theme in the
literature and research.
22                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
In addition to social sustainability, the Hub is
committed to reducing the building’s impact on the
physical environment. The design team embraced the
province’s Wood First Act, a decision that informed
every aspect of the design, from principal structure
to cladding and interior finishes. To meet the build-
ing’s program requirements, a three-story post and
beam glulam structure was developed. This structure
is expressed throughout the building wherever possible
and contributes to a warm, inviting environment. An
economical and versatile hybrid system of TJI joists
and engineered wood products helps minimize cost.
The main three-story mass of the building is ori-
ented in a north-south direction, with subsidiary
massing oriented east-west to create courtyards facing
the adjacent Fraser River. This linear concept allowed
the program components on all three floors to be acces-
sible from fully glazed corridors that run along the
west side of the building. The corridors provide both
daylight and views, as well as an acoustic buffer from
the traffic noise along a nearby busy roadway. Spaces
along the corridors offer a variety of seating areas, play
spaces and calming spaces. Playful elements of color
and texture animate the space. The exposed NLT floor
structure along the corridor helps define this main cir-
culation spine.
All materials were selected for their durability, func-
tionality, aesthetics and low environmental footprint.
With a high priority placed on locally sourced materi-
als containing recycled content, wood was an obvious
choice.
 16

Slope dn. 2%

12 13
8 8 Elevator #1

FEC FEC
1
2 11
Elevator #2

13 2
15

F
10 9 7 6
13 8

u/c
dw
118.13 118.12
Parent's Waiting Educator Office

FEC
15 14 5
4

16

1. entry 6. library 11. consultant meeting rooms

2. reception 7. pafn information centre 12. music room
3. gift shop 8. meeting rooms 13. therapy rooms
4. workroom 9. kitchen 14. family courtyard
5. resource centre 10. pre-school space 15. outdoor play area
16. parking

first floor plan

The exterior materials are primarily stained cedar

siding and metal panels. These materials are used,
alone and in combination, to express program com- 8 8
ponents and reduce the apparent scale of the massing. 16 11
15 14 10
The western red cedar is finished with a clear sealer 12 2
to maintain the natural warmth of the wood and pro- 9 7 6 5 4 1
13 3
vide visual richness. The security fences and bicycle
enclosures are also constructed of western red cedar.
Beyond the expressed wood structure, interior fin-
ishes include linear wood ceilings, wood acoustic wall
panels, and extensive millwork. These are all designed 1. multi-purpose 6. life span classroom 11. consultant
auditorium meeting rooms
and detailed to create a modern, expressive architec- 7. life span social
2. auditorium lobby centre 12. life skills suite
ture and a nurturing place for people living with
3. covered patio 8. meeting rooms 13. laboratory
ASD. 4. cafe 9. kitchenette 14. dental room
5. servery 10. digital room 15. research/clinical
CLIENT assessment area
Pacific Autism Family Centre Foundation 16. reception/nurse
Vancouver, BC
second floor plan

ARCHITECT
NSDA Architects
Vancouver, BC
8 8
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER 2
Fast + Epp 7 4 3
Vancouver, BC 2 1
6 5

G E N E R A L C O N T R A C TO R
Ventana Construction Corp. 1. boardroom 5. audio visual studio
Burnaby, BC
2. general office 6. staff room
3. copier/work room 7. staff lockers
P H OTO G R A P H Y
4. server room 8. meeting rooms
Derek Lepper Photography
Vancouver, BC Third floor plan

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Wood Design Awards Book
A MUST-HAVE
for your Library

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
IN WOOD ARCHITECTURE

ORDER ONLINE TODAY!

39.95
$ *
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webstore.cwc.ca
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*plus S&H and applicable
taxes for each order
 Online
Submissions
Open
FALL 2018

2018
WOOD
DESIGN &
BUILDING
AWARDS Georgica Cove. Photo credit: Bates Masi + Architects

Submit your project(s) and showcase the

possibilities of building with wood
Winners will be featured in our esteemed awards book,
Celebrating Excellence in Wood Architecture,
the Wood Design & Building Magazine, and more

Have questions? Please contact:

Ioana Lazea ilazea@cwc.ca 1 800 463 5091 x 227
Natalie Tarini ntarini@cwc.ca 1 800 463 5091 x 225

www.wooddesignawards.com
 Romsdal Folk
Museum
Pine architectural form combines
region’s folk culture and
characteristic landscape in
a larger composition

Molde, Norway

26                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
                   ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8 27
28                    ‒ spring / summer 2 0 1 8
 The Romsdal Folk Museum is an architectural attrac-
tion and a treasured landmark that embodies the
history and identity of the entire region. The architect’s
intention is for the structure to signal its meaning and
function through its architectural expression and use
of local materials. The scale of the building refers to
the urbanity and morphology of the town. The 37,673-
sq.ft. project has an open and progressive layout that
makes diverse utilization possible.
The museum design is rooted in rationality and
sustainability and the plan geometry is deceptively
simple. The characteristic angled shapes are limited
to the roof and the external wall, making the circula-
tion and internal organization clear and flexible. The
public areas are clearly separated from the administra-
tion wing on both the ground and first floor.
Exhibition rooms, the auditorium and the library
are all placed on the ground floor to increase flexibility
and user experience. The transparency of the recep-
tion room permits supporting internal and external
activities. Large sliding doors separate the permanent
and temporary exhibition areas, giving the curators
the ability to easily combine or separate the spaces. The
archives and workshops are located on the basement
level, with the vertical circulation of large items facili-
tated by a large elevator.
Pine is the primary building material. The terrain
required the use of some concrete, however, its use was
restricted to the foundation. Exterior walls and ceilings
are covered with pine treated with a bio-based oil.

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 Varied openings filter the daylight in such way that
the internal space is enriched by gradations and trans-
lucency. However, the main exhibition rooms are black
boxes, giving the curators total control of artificial
lighting in these areas. All the glazing units have high-
performance glass and, in some locations, the glass is
enhanced with silk-printed colors and patterns.
The Romsdal Folk Museum strategically employs
several low-tech building solutions. It embodies the
national policy in Norway to aim for a more sustainable
future. The museum is built using Norwegian timber
technology and acts as a hub for cultural development.
In this building, the people of Molde, as well as visi-
tors and tourists, are given the opportunity to connect
and to build a wider community. The museum hosts
not only exhibits about Norwegian culture but also
concerts, workshops and lectures.
The architectural form brings together the region’s
folk culture and the area’s characteristic landscape in
a larger composition. The range of perspectives and
activities ensures a broad audience, with the museum
becoming a living center for the exploration of the
region’s history, contemporary culture, and future.
C lient
Stiftelsen Romsdalsmuseet
Molde, Norway

A rchitect
Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Oslo, Norway

S tructural E ngineer
Norconsult
Sandvika, Norway

G eneral C ontractor
Rødberg Bygg AS
Molde, Noway

T imber S upplier S
Splitkon Norge
Amot, Norway

Martinsons Byggsystem KB
Sweden

P hotography
Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, Erik Hattrem,
Søren Harder Nielsen

30                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
 When execution matters.

Innovative glulam & timber solutions.

Sales@fwtimber.com
FEATURE
Alternative Solutions for
Steve Craft
Editor’s Note: Ontario’s Tall Wood Building Reference was released
in November 2017 by the provincial government. The publication
was written as a technical resource to be used by building officials,
architects, engineers, developers, and builders, and provides
information to assist them as they consider tall wood building
construction. Though the document is Ontario-focused, it can
serve as a valuable guide to other jurisdictions regarding code
requirements and developing wood buildings higher than six stories.
32                    ‒ spring / summer 2 0 1 8
In recent years, tall mass timber buildings have become
more prevalent, with dozens either erected or under
construction around the world. Developers, architects,
governments and the wood products industry are increas-
ingly interested in designing and constructing these
unique and progressive buildings.
Although mass timber buildings taller than six stories
are currently not permitted under the prescriptive build-
ing code requirements, building code committees in
Canada are working on revisions to the code requirements
to allow tall wood buildings to be constructed. However,
until those changes occur, tall mass timber buildings can
only be designed and approved using an alternative solu-
tions approach.
The term “mass timber” refers to large timber compo-
nents such as glued-laminated timber (glulam) or other
structural composite lumber (SCL) beams and columns,
and cross-laminated timber (CLT) or laminated veneer
lumber (LVL) panels. Due to their large cross-sectional
area and the relatively slow rate of charring when exposed
to fire, these structural wood products tend to have a sig-
nificant amount of inherent fire resistance.
In order to better understand how these products
perform in fire and how they impact the fire dynamics
within a mass timber building, many fire research tests
have been conducted in recent years in Canada and around
the world.
In an effort to support the wood industry in Ontario
and contribute to the knowledge base for tall wood build-
ings, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and
Forestry recently published Ontario’s Tall Wood Building
Reference. This reference is written primarily for the Chief
Building Official (CBO) of a municipality who may receive
 Although mass timber buildings
taller than six stories are currently
not permitted under the prescriptive
building code requirements, building
code committees in Canada are
working on revisions to the code
requirements to allow tall wood
buildings to be constructed.

an alternative solution proposal for a tall wood building.

It is also a valuable tool for developers and architects who
are interested in better understanding the various consid-
erations that may go into the development of an alternative
solution when seeking approval from a CBO to construct
a tall mass timber building.
To understand how a building permit can be issued
for a building that does not meet the prescriptive require-
ments of the building code, it is necessary to understand
how building codes in Canada work. The regulation of
building construction is a provincial responsibility under Brock Commons – Tallwood House
the Canadian Constitution. However, to support harmo- Photo provided courtesy of Acton Ostry Architects Inc.
nization between provinces, the National Building Code © Michael Elkan Photography

of Canada (NBCC) is developed under the direction of the

Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes as one
of five national model codes. Some provinces adopt the
NBCC as published, while other provinces and territories
make minor or, in some cases, major changes. Enforce-
ment of the provincial codes is typically undertaken by a
municipality’s CBO.
In Ontario, a majority of the model NBCC is adopted,
along with other Ontario-specific changes (e.g. to mid-rise
combustible construction provisions), and is published as
the Ontario Building Code (OBC). Compliance with the
OBC can be demonstrated in one of two ways; by comply-
ing with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B,
or by using alternative solutions that achieve the levels of
performance required of the applicable acceptable solu-
tions relating to the objectives and functional statements.
This means that the acceptable solutions in Division B of
the OBC establish the performance level required with
respect to the applicable objectives and functional state-
ments. Based on this, if a designer wishes to submit an
“alternative solution,” the designer must first establish
the level of performance required based on the Divi-
sion B acceptable solution. This is the primary difference
between an objective-based code and a performance-
based code, the latter of which would explicitly establish
the performance criteria. With an objective-based code,
the designer must determine the level of required perfor-
mance, quantitatively, based on the expected performance
of the acceptable solution.
Once the performance levels are established based on
the performance of a design compliant with the acceptable
solution, as specified in Division B, the alternative solu-
tion can be evaluated to determine the performance level
provided. The OBC requires that the performance level
of the alternative solution be equal to or greater than the
performance level of the acceptable solution.
Alternative solution submissions can take many

                   ‒ spring
s p r ing / su
summer
mmer 2018 33
forms, from simple trade-offs to complex fire safety
engineering analyses. Alternative solutions for tall
wood buildings are likely to be on the more complex
end of the spectrum.
Often, the primary strategy in developing an alterna-
tive solution for the use of a mass timber building where
noncombustible construction is otherwise required is
to follow all the requirements for a noncombustible
building, except for the use of mass timber structural
members and assemblies. Then, mitigating features are
introduced, where considered necessary, to meet the
performance level established by the acceptable solu-
tion of non-combustible structural elements. These
mitigating features may include encapsulation of the
mass timber and the addition of sprinkler system
components intended to increase the reliability of the
system, such as an on-site water tank or multiple risers.
The impact of these mitigating features can then be
evaluated using a risk analysis in order to compare the
acceptable solution to the alternative solution.
The alternative solution for a mass timber high-rise
building would most likely need to address several
aspects related to the combustible structure. These
may include the structural fire resistance rating of
the mass timber structure, which for a building over
6 storeys would be required to be a minimum of two
hours. While testing is one way to demonstrate perfor-
mance, tall mass timber buildings will in many cases be
designed for fire resistance based on engineering prin-
ciples related to the charring properties of the wood
structure.
Should a fire occur, the combustible nature of the
mass timber structure and the impact the combustible
structure may have on the fire growth, intensity and
duration must also be considered. This contribution to
the fire development will depend on the different sce-
narios considered, such as in the case where sprinklers
fail to control the fire and the fire department is unable
to respond, as well as the specific design of the building.
When a CBO has the appropriate competence and
experience, they may choose to review and evaluate
the proposed alternative solution themselves. However,
in many cases, an Alternative Solution for a tall wood
building may be beyond the level of in-house exper-
tise of a CBO. In these cases, a third-party review can
become an important resource used by CBOs to evalu-
ate complex alternative solutions.
There are efforts in Canada to allow for tall mass
timber buildings under the prescriptive requirements in
the respective building codes. This would possibly
reduce the need for alternative solutions for tall mass
timber buildings once adopted in the near future. How-
ever, many of the buildings being designed and built
today go beyond what is being considered in the current
revisions to the buildings code and, therefore, designers
will continue to require alternative solutions since the
buildings may be taller, or the architects would like more
exposed wood, or the buildings may be designed for dif-
ferent occupancies than those permitted by the
acceptable solutions in
the code. For more infor-
mation on alternative
solutions for tall wood
buildings, download
Ontario’s Tall Wood
Building Reference at
www.ontario.ca/page/
building-with-wood.
Steve Craft, PhD, P.Eng.,
is Principal, CHM Fire
Consultants Ltd.
34
Timber Engineering & Construction
 Rigidply Rafters Inc. Engineers and
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wood - Glue-Laminated Timbers - bring the
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www.rigidply.com
Dowel Laminated Timber
A new mass timber product in North America
Lucas Epp
A range of wood species is achievable with DLT. Spruce-Pine-Fir, Douglas fir, Western red cedar, and Alaskan yellow cedar panels are shown here.
Introduction
Use of mass timber as a structural system
is on the rise in North America. Replac-
ing traditional structural systems such
as concrete and steel, these prefabricated
solid wood panels create a construction
method that is fast, clean, and sustainable
– not to mention aesthetically pleasing.
With recent projects like the 220,000-sq.
ft. T3 office buildings in Minneapolis and
Atlanta, the cost-competitiveness of mass
timber is now being shown at scale.
Dowel Laminated Timber (DLT),
known as dübelholz (literally “dowelled
wood”) in Europe, is a structurally effi-
cient and economic mass timber panel
which can be used for floor, wall, and roof
structures. In many ways, it is similar to
Nail Laminated Timber (NLT), but with-
out the nails. DLT panels are the only 100
per cent mass timber product – in concept
they involve no glue or nails.
History of Mass Timber
Before describing DLT in detail, it is
important to understand NLT – the oldest
mass timber product, which has been in
use in heavy timber structures for over
150 years. Examples exist in the warehouse
districts of many cities. Large industrial
buildings like the 500,000-sq.ft., eight-
story Butler Building (Minneapolis, built
in 1906) used solid-sawn posts and beams
with NLT floor panels to create a robust
structural frame.
NLT is created from dimensional
lumber stacked on edge – nominal 3", 4",
6", 8", 10", or 12" boards which are lami-
nated and fastened together with nails.
Plywood or OSB sheathing is often added
to the top side to provide a structural dia-
phragm. This system became prevalent,
leading the National Lumber Manufac-
turers Association to create Heavy Timber
Mill Construction Buildings in 1916, an
illustrated guide to structural and fire
detailing of these heavy timber structures.
Heavy timber construction fell out of
main stream use with the industrial revo-
lution and the rise of steel and concrete as
primary building materials.
However, this is starting to change as
the construction industry realizes the
importance of sustainable construction.
Wood is the only primary structural mate-
rial that is renewable and grows naturally.
Julius Natterer, a famous Swiss timber
engineer, re-introduced the concept
of NLT (known as brettstapel, literally
“stacked elements”) to Europe in the
1970s. Natterer saw NLT as a mass timber
product that could be produced by anyone,
and encouraged manufacturing through-
out Europe. However, the nails inside
NLT meant that CNC machining of these
panels was impossible, and manufacture
by hand was laborious.
History of Dowel
Laminated Timber
In the early 1990s, DLT/dübelholz was
developed by Alois Tschopp (Tschopp
Holzbau) with Pirmin Jung in Switzer-
land. They saw this product as a superior
IDEAS&applications

DLT in North America

In 2017, StructureCraft installed the first
DLT production plant in North America.
This high capacity, fully automated DLT
machinery line is the fastest and largest
capacity worldwide, and is intended to
introduce a new cost-competitive mass
timber product to the rapidly growing
market in North America.

DLT Manufacturing
DLT panels are made from softwood
lumber boards stacked like the boards of
NLT, but friction-fit together with hard-
wood dowels instead of nails. The dowels
hold each board side-by-side, forming a
stiffer and stronger connection than the
nails in NLT. Each board lamination in
a DLT panel is finger-jointed, creating a
stiffer and stronger panel than NLT as it
eliminates the board splices and butt-joints
which are characteristic of NLT.
DLT panels may be processed using CNC
machinery, unlike NLT panels (due to the
nails). This creates a high tolerance panel
which can also contain pre-integrated elec-
trical conduit and other service runs.

product to NLT/brettstapel in every way

– it used only wood, it was CNC machin-
able, and production of the panel was
possible with automated machinery. They
proceeded to create the first automated
machinery line for DLT.
In Europe, DLT is a well-known and
well used mass timber product. Although
both products were developed around the
same time, CLT has developed a larger
market share in Europe, as the big glulam
manufacturers saw CLT as a glued product
which would be easy to expand into. DLT
remained the realm of smaller manufac-
turers – the largest manufacturer produces
around 15,000m3/year. Interestingly how-
ever DLT is often cheaper than CLT in
Europe, and is gaining more interest, due
to DLT being 100 per cent wood.
Recent larger and taller wood buildings
in Europe have used DLT as floor and wall
panels (E3, Berlin). There are more than
15 manufacturers of DLT in Europe, pri-
marily located in Switzerland, Germany
and Austria. Above and this photo: E3 Berlin, a seven-story mixed use building uses DLT for floors and walls.

38                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8

DLT press at StructureCrafts’s new facility in Abbotsford, BC.
Panelized Building Elements
DLT panels are prefabricated in sizes of up
to 12 feet wide and 60 feet long. Each panel
is put through a panel planer to ensure a
dimensionally accurate and planed sur-
face. Prefabricated panels can be factory
finished with sealers or stains.
Finish and Geometric Possibilities
DLT is a versatile product, and naturally
lends itself to creating unique aesthetics
on the exposed face of the panel. Each of
the laminations are run through a profile
molder, meaning many different profiles
are achievable, from notches and reveals
to flowing curves.
Curved DLT panels can be created by
milling custom profiles into each lamina-
tion, creating a flexible panel which, like
an accordion, can accommodate curves
perpendicular to the span direction of the
panel. The radius for these curves is lim-
ited only by the bending stiffness of the
dowels, which are located centrally in the
panel. These panels are created initially
flat and then curved into shape on site.
Fluted panels (e.g. 2x4-2x6-2x4) can
create a unique soffit aesthetic if exposed,
and allow the running of electrical con-
duits or sprinklers in the gaps.
Unique to DLT as a mass timber prod-
uct, acoustic profiles can be integrated
directly into the bottom surface of a
panel. This can help a designer achieve
acoustic objectives while keeping the
wood exposed and allowing for a wide
variety of surface finishes.
Any wood species incorporated in the
International Building Code (IBC) and
referenced National Design Specification
(NDS) for Wood Construction can be
used in DLT, as only specified strength and
stiffness for each lamination is required.
Full-scale panel testing is not required to
determine structural performance – a sig-
nificant advantage to DLT as a product.
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IDEAS&applications
Structural Performance
As a floor or roof deck, DLT is a highly effi-
cient structural panel. Similar to NLT or
GLT (glulam on flat), all of the wood fiber
runs in the direction of the span. This pro-
vides the most efficient use of material for
floor and roof systems which are typically
one-way spanning between beams or walls.
From a structural perspective, each indi-
vidual lamination spans between supports,
meaning calculation of the panel stiffness
and capacity is simple. The structural design
of each lamination in a panel is covered by
CSA O86 and the NDS and applicable grad-
ing rules. Structurally finger-jointed lumber
is used for spans longer than 20 feet, mean-
ing no reduction in strength or stiffness
is required for longer panels. This is a big
advantage over traditional NLT where butt
joints in laminations require a 20 to 30 per
cent reduction in panel strength and stiff-
ness (refer to Nail Laminated Timber Design
Guide, Table 4.1 and IBC 2015 2306.1.4).
39
IDEAS&applications

T3 Minneapolis office building.

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 IDEAS&applications

The Uniform Building Code (predeces-

sor to the IBC) has recognized laminated
decking since 1927, and the NBC since
its first publication in 1941. The require-
ment for minimum fastening of the boards
together ensures that the panel acts as
an element and not individual boards.
The 3/4" diameter hardwood dowels in
DLT can create the same interlayer shear
capacity between boards as the original
20 penny nail requirement specified in
the IBC.
Machine stress rated lumber can be
used to increase strength and stiffness of
the panel.

Diaphragms and Shear Walls

Plywood or OSB sheathing atop the panel
gives shear capacity to DLT panels for use
as structural diaphragms in floors and
Connection detail at wall/floor panel interface.
walls. The sheathing also allows for simple
nailed connections between panels with
strips of plywood. The shear capacity of
the sheathing applied overtop the DLT
panels can be calculated like a typical
nailed plywood diaphragm per CSA O86
11.5 or Special Design Provisions for Wind
and Seismic (SDPWS) 4.2.7.1.

Bearing Walls
DLT panels can be used as structural bear-
ing walls with the DLT exposed on both
sides, or sheathed one or both sides as a
shear wall.

Two-Way Spans
Smaller two-way spans or weak-axis canti-
levers (up to two- to three-foot cantilevers
or four- to six-foot simple spans) can be
achieved in DLT panels by using screw
reinforcement inside the panel. Screw
reinforcement for a weak-axis cantilever
can be designed using a strut-and-tie truss
analogy to design angled shear and com-
pression screws, and using the plywood
sheathing as a tension flange.
Larger minor axis cantilevers can be
achieved using steel or wood outriggers set
atop or notched into the top of the panel. Taping OSB joint seams for temporary weather protection.

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IDEAS&applications
How DLT is Made
Detailing for Moisture
When detailing DLT panels, designers need
to account for moisture movement – wood
expands perpendicular to grain when as
moisture content increases. Incorporation
of small gaps between panels deals effec-
tively with this issue. The T3 Minneapolis
structure had a floor plate which was 220
feet wide, and which experienced both snow
and rain during winter construction. The
gap between panels effectively dealt with
expansion of the panels during construc-
tion, and there were no issues with moisture
damage or remedial works required. The
key is in detailing for the movement, and
letting panels dry out after they get wet.
Use of OSB sheathing with a pre-applied
moisture-resistant top coating and taped
joints is a newer solution to this issue. Along
with providing a path for the water to move
off the floor plate, this strategy provides
significant protection from moisture, and
greatly reduces expansion of the panels.
42                    ‒ s p r ing / su m m e r 2 0 1 8
If a gap is provided between panels, it
can be filled in afterwards with lumber,
or retained to create a visual delineation
between panels – as it was on the T3 build-
ing. From a fire design perspective, the gap
between panels is not an issue if a con-
tinuous topping layer or plywood spline
is provided. Similar to a plywood spline
between CLT panels, this continuous layer
prevents air movement between floors, thus
ensuring char development remains uni-
directional (NLT Guide 3.3.2). The local
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for
the T3 building accepted permanent gaps
between NLT panels for this reason.
Fire Performance
DLT can be used in all types of combusti-
ble construction. From a fire perspective,
DLT behaves the same or better than NLT.
Both the National Building Code of
Canada (NBCC) and the IBC recognize
NLT and provide guidance for both struc-
tural and fire design. No product-specific
standard is required, as the structural
design of each lamination element is cov-
ered by the building codes. It is resistant
to fire, and has long met the requirements
of heavy timber in North American
building codes. NLT can be used in all
types of combustible construction.
The fire resistance of mass timber
panels is now widely proven – the char
developed during a fire creates a self-
protection layer. Research recently
completed by FPInnovations showed
that a 2 x 8 NLT floor panel with con-
crete topping can achieve a three-hour
fire resistance rating under full load
(Osborne, 2015).
The inherent fire performance of mass
timber removes the need for intumescent
coatings and dropped ceilings that would
be required for a steel structure, allowing
the wood to be exposed as a permanent
soffit.

Acoustics
As with all mass timber systems, it is
important to address acoustic separation
between mass timber walls and floors,
which can be achieved through appropri-
ate detailing. Acoustic mat should be used
in floor buildups with no dropped ceiling.
Vibration and
Timber-Concrete
Composites with DLT
The stiffness of mass timber panels is
important in long-span floor systems,
and as can be seen in Table 1, consider-
ation of floor vibrations often govern the
required panel thickness.
A concrete topping is often required
for acoustic performance, and this top-
ping can be made composite with DLT
panels to increase the panel stiffness. In
Europe, many different techniques of
creating composite action between the
DLT and the concrete topping are used,
including:
• Fully threaded screws inclined in the
direction of the shear flow
• Milled notches in the DLT panel, con-
tinuous perpendicular to the direction
of the span
• Use of f luted DLT, with the f lutes
turned up so the concrete topping flows
between the higher laminations
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IDEAS&applications
SUMMARY
Dowel Laminated Timber takes mass
timber construction one step further to
create a 100 per cent wood panel which can
be CNC machined and incorporate acous-
tic treatment into an exposed wood soffit.
Due to its efficiency, aesthetics, and cost
effectiveness, DLT will help lead the push
towards wood construction.
DLT also extends the range of mass timber
options available in North America, and sup-
ports the trend towards prefabrication as the
future of building construction.
References
• Binational Softwood Lumber Council. 2017.
Nail Laminated Timber – U.S. and Canadian
Design and Construction Guide v1.0.
• E3 Berlin, www.proholz.at/zuschnitt/33/
lueckenfueller-mit-distanz
• Osborne, Linday (FPInnovations). 2015.
“Fire Resistance of Long Span Composite
Wood-Concrete Floor Systems”
Lucas Epp, P.Eng., leads the engineering department
at StructureCraft and has also co-authored industry
guidelines including the recently published NLT
Design and Construction Guide. He can be reached
at lepp@structurecraft.com or (604) 313-2526.
Residence using DLT for walls, roof, and floors.
43
TechnicalSolutions

Hurricane Ties
Stephen MacDougall

Hurricane ties will hold a roof on, right?

When steel straps, commonly referred to
as hurricane ties, are installed on a build-
ing, they are expected to secure the roof in
place against wind uplift forces. Unfortu-
nately, depending how hurricane ties are
used, they may not provide the expected
uplift resistance.
Recently, the entire roof of a three-year-
old barn equipped with hurricane ties in
southern Ontario lifted up off the top of
the exterior walls during a spring wind
storm. Fortunately for the workers inside
the barn at the time, although the roof
completely separated from the supporting
walls, the roof trusses only dropped down
a few feet thanks to stacks of straw bales
inside the building which prevented the
barn from completely collapsing.
At the time of the failure, neighbor-
ing buildings were not damaged and the
maximum wind gust speed of 96km/h
recorded by a nearby weather station
did not exceed the Code-required wind
load the barn should have been designed
to withstand. The barn’s hurricane ties
Detached and outward leaning top of side support wall. were intended to secure the roof to the
top of the walls and prevent exactly what
occurred. So what happened?
The barn was rectangular in shape,
measuring 120 ft. long by 60 ft. wide with
16-ft. tall walls and a gable-style roof with
a pitch of about 4/12. The barn included
cast-in-place concrete perimeter founda-
tion walls and 2 x 6 wood studs spaced
at 24 in. on center with metal cladding
forming the exterior walls. The roof
included pre-fabricated wood roof trusses
spaced at 48 in. on center with a clear span
across the width of the barn. Each of the
roof trusses was secured to the top of the
exterior walls with a “twist strap” style
Hurricane ties securing roof truss to top plate but not wall studs below. hurricane tie on each side.

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As it turned out, the hurricane ties
were all found intact and had indeed
prevented the roof trusses from separat-
ing from the double 2 x 6 plate along the
top of the exterior walls. The failure that
allowed the roof to lift up occurred at the
nailed connection between the exterior
wall studs and the top plate. In this case,
the hurricane ties secured the roof trusses
to the top plate, but did not extend down
to bridge the connection between the top
plate and the studs below.
The failed connection between the
top plate and the wall studs consisted of
nails installed vertically though the top
plate into the end grain at the top of the
wall studs. This type of construction is
common when stud walls are constructed
on the ground and then raised up into
place. The wall did not include sheath-
ing (OSB, plywood, etc.), which may have
also helped secure the top plate to the
studs. Instead, strips of 1 x 4 strapping
were used to secure the light gauge exte-
rior metal cladding to the walls. Because
the nails forming the failed connection
were installed into the end grain of the
Separation of roof trusses and top plate from wall studs.
studs, they would have provided limited
withdrawal resistance. Additionally, the
nails used had smooth shanks and were
significantly thinner than traditional
common or spiral nails of the same
length (most likely installed with a nail
gun), factors that further reduced their
withdrawal resistance.
A design review of the failed connec-
tion found that the withdrawal resistance
of the nails provided less than 60 per cent
of the hurricane tie uplift capacity stated
by the manufacturer and was well below
the design wind uplift force required by
the Ontario Building Code for this barn.
Upon review of the original construction
drawings, it was found that the hurricane
ties were specified as securing the trusses
to the top plate only and no details were
given regarding how the top plate was to
have been secured to the wall studs.
In this case, the building was damaged
beyond repair, however, the damage
likely could have been reduced or even
prevented had alternative hurricane ties
been used. A variety of hurricane ties
and straps are available which can be
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TechnicalSolutions
installed to extend from the roof fram-
ing down past the top plate and secured
to the top of the wall studs. These larger
hurricane ties would have significantly
increased the uplift resistance of the roof
with only a nominal cost increase at the
time of construction.
It should be noted that due to the rel-
atively light weight of the structure
compared to its size, the base of the exte-
rior walls may have also been subject to
damage from wind uplift had the con-
nection at the top plate not failed first.
The bottom plate of the walls was bolted
to the foundation, however, similar
to the top of the walls, the nailed con-
nection between the studs and bottom
plate included limited withdrawal resis-
tance. As a result, the base of the walls is
another area where hurricane ties may
have been required to secure the base of
the wall studs and ensure the wind uplift
forces were adequately transferred into
the foundation.
Although farm buildings such as this
may be more susceptible to wind damage
due to their size and relatively light
weight, hurricane ties are beginning to
be used more commonly in all types of
wood framed buildings including houses
where designing for wind uplift may not
strictly be required by local codes. Some
Ontario municipalities now offer rebate
programs for the installation of hurri-
cane ties, citing the increased occurrence
of damaging winds and tornadoes.
Regardless of the building application,
care needs to be taken when designing
and constructing a wood-framed build-
ing to resist wind uplift and ensure that
the structure is truly secured in place as
intended.
Stephen MacDougall is a Professional Engineer
with Brown & Beattie Ltd. specializing in the
inspection and assessment of structurally
damaged buildings. He and his colleagues have
been working closely with insurance companies
investigating a wide variety of buildings damaged
by events such as fires, explosions, vehicle
impacts, wind, and snow loading.
45

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of the two models are solar-powered and
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house with the mobility and lifestyle of a
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camper. Both campers deliver a compact,
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